If you’re into your board games, you’ll be chuffed to hear that there’s a tabletop gaming festival coming to Manchester where you can roll dice, role-play and roll up your sleeves for a proper old-school sweaty gaming session.
Ah, those were the days, and we’re determined to relive them as often as we can.
Set up by local tabletop meeting organisers Dungeons and Flagons, who have various events taking place at different locations all around Greater Manchester each and every month, the ‘Tabletop Weekender’ next month is set to be their biggest event to date.
Taking place in the first weekend of February, visitors can expect hours upon hours of board game fun, with tickets available for both days of the full weekend if you really want to put some tabletop time in.
The Dungeons and Flagons brand has slowly but steadily been building a pretty big cult following in and around Manchester, with regular meetings amongst fellow board game fans almost every night of the week at multiple venues in the city centre and beyond.
While this is by no means the first festival like this, they’re hoping to kick off 2024 with a bang by making this the biggest and best Weekender yet.
And when we say this is an all-dayer, we mean it: the fun starts from 10am and runs all the way until 10pm on Saturday, as well 10am-8pm on Sunday, there’ll never be a lull in the festivities.
Sponsored by industry brands Hachette Boardgames UK, Zatu Games and Chaosium Inc., you can expect raffles and giveaways, a traders row to buy and sell; bingo, pub quizzes and other activities, not to mention more cosplay and game choices than possible moves in a game of Warhammer.
They always have plenty of cards up there sleeves too. Not literally — that would be cheating.
But, seriously, the 18+ afterparties once the games have included everything from standup and live magic to karaoke, horror film screenings and party games galore.
It’s the biggest board game festival and gathering of tabletop players anywhere in Greater Manchester.
With games like straightforward Dungeons and Dragons and ‘Puzzle Parlour’ jigsaw sessions, to the Honey Heist RPG, the ominously named ‘Blood on the Clocktower’ and so many more choices, you can turn up and book on to so many different kids of games or just go with the flow.
Taking place in the Manchester Metropolitan University‘s Student Union over the first weekend of next month, this fun and family-friendly event isn’t just for those who are used to playing board games; the Tabletop Weekender is the perfect opportunity to give the genre a try if you’ve ever been curious.
If you fancy rolling the dice on it, you can grab your tickets HERE and there will be a small amount available to buy on the door across both days.
Hope you catch a few of you there!
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There’s a ‘not snobby’ cheese tasting evening coming to Manchester this autumn
Thomas Melia
An evening dedicated to celebrating all things cheese is coming to a Manchester city centre pub this autumn.
Leeds-based cheese company Homage2Fromage launched its cheese-focused company back in 2011 as a monthly service highlighting all the delicious dairy offerings.
Since this, Homage2Fromage has gone on to host incredible events and activities, including an all-you-can-eat cheese festival right here in Manchester back in 2023.
Now, the cheese fanatics return with a brand-new event titled ‘Extreme Cheese’, where it’s bringing lots of creamy and crumbly varieties to local Manchester city centre pub, The Wayfarer.
You can expect to sample eight dairy delights, with some expected to be ‘very strong’, as the company adds ‘fromage not for the faint-hearted’, so if you like your cheese strong, then this one’s for you.
Homage2Fromage host cheese tasting experiences across the country including Manchester / Credit: Supplied
This cheese provider offers tasting experiences up and down the country, including prime spots in the north like Halifax, Harrogate, Leeds, and Sheffield.
The newest cheese-inspired event is set to be no different, with an itinerary packed regarding all things cheese.
You can grab a drink on arrival, and as soon as you hear ‘CHEESE’ the tasting begins, followed by scoring and, most importantly, an informative chat where you learn all about this dreamy delicacy.
For those who are cheese aficionados, the company even lets you host your own cheese event and provides everything you could ever need – including that golden flavour-packed good stuff.
If you’d rather put your hosting skills to one side though, and just simply tuck into some of the best cheddar varieties there is, then you can do just that at this upcoming cheese testing evening this autumn.
Homage2Fromage is bringing an exclusive cheese tasting evening, ‘Extreme Cheese’, to Manchester city centre at The Wayfarer on 24 September, and you can find tickets HERE.
Featured Images – Publicity Pictures (via Supplied)
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Blackpool Pleasure Beach announces its famous ‘late night riding’ is back this summer
Emily Sergeant
Blackpool Pleasure Beach has announced that its famous ‘late night riding’ event is making a grand return this summer.
Don’t quite feel ready to say goodbye to summer just yet, and want to cling onto that laidback lifestyle for a little longer?
Well luckily the Lancashire seaside town’s beloved theme park has just announced that it will be bringing back its ever popular ‘late night riding’ hours for one Saturday only later this month, and tickets are now on sale.
It’s not just us calling it ‘late night riding’ for nothing, by the way, that is genuinely what Blackpool Pleasure Beach has decided to name the event.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s famous ‘late night riding’ is making a comeback / Credit: Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Anyway, on Saturday 23 August, Blackpool Pleasure Beach will be open from 10am right through until late in the evening, so thrill-seekers can enjoy their favourite rides under the town’s twinkling lights once the sun has gone down.
“Enjoy the fantastic atmosphere as the park sparkles and shines in the dark,” Blackpool Pleasure Beach said as it announced the event‘s return.
While Blackpool Pleasure Beach is always a great day out during the daylight hours anyway, Late Night Riding gives you the chance to ‘brave your favourite rides in the dark’, and experience the park like never before.
Staying open until late means there’s even more hours to ride into the night on the UK’s tallest rollercoaster, the Big One, check out the twists and turns of ICON in the evening, enjoy a night race on the Grand National, and ride on the the Big Dipper at dusk.
There’ll also be a show-stopping fireworks display on the day at 10pm.
The spectacular fireworks displays have a different theme each Late Night Riding event, and always fill the skies above the rollercoasters, rides, and attractions of the park with plenty of colour, while special shows, themed music, and live entertainment fill the park below, all to make sure that visitors have the most immersive experience
The popular event will return for one night only later this month / Credit: Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Tickets for Late Night Riding on Saturday 23 August are available online, and will set you back £35 for an online ticket or £50 on the day.
If you’re unable to make this month’s Late Night Riding though, don’t worry, as you’ll have a chance to visit in a couple of months time when the event returns again in late November
Danny Jones -
19th January 2024 
